THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU
BHUBANESWAR, NOVEMBER 12, 2026
Calling for strategic convergence among government departments and
tourism stakeholders to unlock Odisha's vast tourism potential, Deputy Chief
Minister Pravati Parida on Thursday stressed the need to align the state's
tourism development with the vision of ‘Viksit Odisha 2036’ and the national
goal of ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’.
Addressing the first meeting of the State Tourism Advisory Council (STAC)
in Bhubaneswar, Parida emphasised that tourism could play a pivotal role in
transforming Odisha's economy by generating employment, strengthening local
livelihoods and preserving its rich cultural heritage. She also called for
concerted efforts to realise the ‘Think India, Think Odisha’ vision and
position the state as a premier, sustainable and responsible global tourism
destination.
Highlighting Odisha's immense tourism potential, she said the state has a
diverse range of attractions, including historical and spiritual heritage, a
long coastline, Buddhist sites, rich biodiversity, tribal traditions,
handicrafts and picturesque natural landscapes. These resources, she noted,
offer significant opportunities to develop tourism as a major driver of
inclusive economic growth.
The meeting deliberated on a comprehensive roadmap to strengthen the
state's tourism ecosystem, with a focus on diversifying tourism experiences
through eco-tourism, heritage and religious tourism, adventure tourism,
Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) tourism, destination
weddings and new tourism circuits.
The creation of a Tourism Land Bank, upgradation of infrastructure and
basic amenities at major tourist destinations, improved connectivity, better
accommodation facilities, tourist safety, sanitation and development of skilled
manpower also figured prominently in the discussions.
The Council further emphasised the need to facilitate private investment
through effective inter-departmental coordination and simplification of
regulatory procedures, including building permissions, Fire NOCs, licences and
other statutory clearances. Strengthening Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) and
encouraging greater participation of tourism and hospitality stakeholders were
also identified as key measures to accelerate growth in the sector.
On Odisha's international tourism outreach, the meeting discussed the
upcoming Odisha Parab in Bali, Indonesia, scheduled for November 23–24, 2026.
The event is expected to provide an international platform to showcase the
state's art, culture, handicrafts, cuisine and diverse tourism offerings, while
enhancing Odisha's visibility on the global tourism map.
The deliberations also underscored the importance of strengthening STAC
as an effective institutional mechanism for policy guidance, stakeholder consultation
and formulation of actionable recommendations, backed by time-bound
implementation of tourism initiatives in alignment with the ‘Think India, Think
Odisha’ vision.
Setting the tone for the deliberations, Commissioner-cum-Secretary,
Department of Tourism, Balwant Singh, presented the department's vision
document and outlined the strategic direction for the state's tourism sector.
Director of Tourism Deepankar Mohapatra, Special Secretary Lipsa Das, Chairman of HRAO J. K. Mohanty, General Manager of OTDC Dharmendra Mallick and Additional Secretary Rudra Narayan Das, along with prominent representatives from the tourism and hospitality industry, attended the meeting and shared their views on strengthening Odisha's tourism ecosystem.
The first meeting of STAC marks a step towards institutionalising stakeholder engagement and fostering coordinated efforts for sustainable, inclusive and investment-led tourism development in Odisha.
